Federal Courts in History

Federal Courts in History

United States v. Nixon (1974)

Case background and primary source documents concerning the Supreme Court case of United States v. Nixon. Dealing with the principle of separation of powers, this lesson focuses on the question of whether or not the Constitution’s separation of powers intended to create an absolute executive privilege.

Founding Principles

Separation of Powers

A system of distinct powers built into the Constitution to prevent an accumulation of power in one branch.